Appratus for breaking sheet ice

ABSTRACT

Apparatus is provided for breaking surface ice formed over a snow cover as sometimes develops on ski slopes or the like. A rotary unit, which may be dragged by a tractor, is formed with radial guides in spaced wheels with bars parallel to the axis of the wheels and mounted in the guides for free radial movement. The bars drop sequentially down against the ice surface and fall back again towards the center as the apparatus rotates.

c Unite States Patent [is] 3,639,005

Helm 5] Feb. 1, 1972 [54] APPRATUS FOR BREAKING SHEET ICE 1,632,255 6/1927 Wagner ..173/98 [72] Inventor: William J. Holm, 26 East Lane p g 2,314,934 3/1943 Guernsey ..299/25 field 05 156 Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser [22] Filed: June 1 l, 1970 Attorney-Morse, Altman & Oates [211 App]. No.: 45,414 [57] ABSTRACT I Apparatus is provided for breaking surface ice formed over a 94/50 snow cover as sometimes develops on ski slopes or the like. A [58] Fie'ld 85 86 rotary unit, which may be dragged by a tractor, is formed with "i' 6 radial guides in spaced wheels with bars parallel to the axis of the wheels and mounted in the guides for free radial move ment. The bars drop sequentially down against the ice surface References Cited and fall back again towards the center as the apparatus UNITED STATES PATENTS rotates- 771,437 10/1904 McCobb ..94/S0 R 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures C) we PATENTED FEB 1 1972 H8 F/G. 3

INVENTOR,

WILLIAM J. HOL M ATTORNEYS APPRATUS FOR BREAKING SHEET ICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to equipment for breaking an ice formation covering the ground.

2. Summary of the Prior Art During the skiing season, snow-covered slopes from time to time will be subjected to periods of rain or sleet. Generally the rain will be intermittent and, while not saturating a deep snow cover or base, it nevertheless will form an ice coating over the top of the snow. This ice coating usually makes the skiing difficult if not impossible until such time as the ice coating is broken or covered by a subsequent blanket of snow. In order to prepare the slopes for use, various techniques have been employed to break the ice. The most common technique is to drive a tractor back and forth over the slope to break up the ice formation. This is generally unsatisfactory since the tractor covers relatively little ground and considerable time is required to prepare a large slope. Also, since the tractor breaks up only that portion of the ice directly under its tracks they do not produce a particularly good skiing surface. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for breaking up an ice surface over a snow base, comprising a central hub, a plurality of spaced wheels coaxially mounted on the hub, the wheels being formed with a plurality of spaced radial guides and a heavy elongated bar mounted in each guide parallel to the hub axis whereby rotation of said wheels will cause the bars to drop sequentially from a position adjacent the hub to a position at the periphery of said wheels and then back again to produce an ice-breaking action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing ice-breaking apparatus made according to the invention and in typical use,

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation thereof, and,

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the reference character generally indicates an ice-breaking apparatus made in accordance with the invention and adapted to be rolled over a ski slope by means ofa crawler type tractor 12 or the like. The tractor is coupled to the ice breaker as by means of a yoke 14 or other suitable harnessing arrangement. The ice breaker is generally cylindrical in configuration and is intended to be rolled along behind the tractor in the manner shown.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, there are shown details in the construction of the ice breaker. The breaker is generally organized about a central one-piece axle 16 having an enlarged central hub portion 18 extending between the reduced end portions thereof. Coaxially fixed to the hub portion 18 are matching wheellike members 20, 22 and 24, axially spaced from one another. Each of the members 20, 22 and 24 is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced radial guides 26 extending between the hub portion I8 and an outer annular rim 30. Shorter guides 32 are also mounted to each wheel member in angularly spaced radial arrangement but terminate at their inner ends at crosspieces 34. The outer end of each radial guide 32 terminates at the rim 30. Additional crosspieces 35 are provided between guides to strengthen the wheel structure.

Each radial guide is comprised of spaced walls 36 and 38 to define a radial channel or guideway 40 to receive reduced end portions 42 and a reduced midportion 43 of an elongated drop bar 44. All ofthe wheels 20, 22 and 24 are mounted to the hub so that guideways register in alignment with one another, the drop bar being loosely engaged in the associated radial channel or guideway for each wheel as best shown in FIG. 2. In

practice, it is desirable to form the dro bars 44 with proectmg studs or spikes 48 which serve to en ance the ice-brea ing action. Similar spikes 50 may be added to the rims 30 to provide traction to the device and to facilitate its rolling over the ice.

In operation, as the unit is rolled along, the drop bars will fall in against the hub as its associated guideway moves to the upper part of the wheel and as the guideway moves around towards a lower position, its associated drop bar will fall under gravity downwardly to strike the ice, causing it to fracture. As the breaker continues to roll, the drop bar will fall back against the hub to be ready for the next dropping action. Since all of the guideways are provided with drop bars, the rolling action will produce a continuing breaking action, covering substantially the whole width of the unit to provide a very effective ice-breaking action which will prepare the slope for skiing.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for breaking an ice surface, comprising a. a'plurality of circular rotary members,

b. means mounting said members in spaced coaxial relation,

c. said members being formed with a plurality of angularly spaced radial guides the guides of adjacent members being in alignment to form radial guideways, and,

d. a bar movably mounted in each of said guideways whereby said bar will move from the axis to the peripheries of said members as said members are rotated.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each bar is formed with reduced end portions and at least one reduced portion medial of the end portions, said reduced portions being slidably mounted in said guides.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein portions of said bars are dimensioned to extend radially beyond the peripheries of said members when said bars are in the outermost position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including protuberances formed over the surface of said bars.

5. Apparatus according to claim I including gripping elements disposed about said members.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with harness means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guides are of at least two different lengths arrayed in alternating relation. 

1. Apparatus for breaking an ice surface, comprising a. a plurality of circular rotary members, b. means mounting said members in spaced coaxial relation, c. said members being formed with a plurality of angularly spaced radial guides the guides of adjacent members being in alignment to form radial guideways, and, d. a bar movably mounted in each of said guideways whereby said bar will move from the axis to the peripheries of said members as said members are rotated.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each bar is formed with reduced end portions and at least one reduced portion medial of the end portions, said reduced portions being slidably mounted in said guides.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein portions of said bars are dimensioned to extend radially beyond the peripheries of said members when said bars are in the outermost position.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including protuberances formed over the surface of said bars.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including gripping elements disposed about said members.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with harness means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guides are of at least two different lengths arrayed in alternating relation. 